The Difference a Dad Makes: Paternal Involvement and Child Outcomes

Over 30% of U.S. children are being raised without their father. This growing trend in family structures has an undeniable impact on the socio-emotional development of our youngest generations, and subsequently our society as a whole. This study reviews the Building Strong Families dataset to examine the correlation between paternal Involvement and children’s socio-emotional outcomes in fragile families. We expect that paternal involvement serves as a protective factor for children, decreasing the risk for negative outcomes from poor maternal involvement. The implications of this research extend to family court processes, family therapy practices, and organizations that provide community co-parenting education.